{"id":16405,"date":"2020-10-30T13:00:27","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T17:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=16405"},"modified":"2021-05-05T03:01:18","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T07:01:18","slug":"why-is-my-hair-falling-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/why-is-my-hair-falling-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is my hair falling out? Learn the causes of hair loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hair loss, also called alopecia, is a loss of hair from the scalp or other parts of the body. Hair loss can happen for multiple reasons, such as changes to hormone levels, aging, or because of a medical condition, which is why it can be difficult to answer the question: Why is my hair falling out? Let\u2019s take a more in-depth look at hair loss to understand its causes and how to treat it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is my hair falling out?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hair loss can range in severity from mild thinning of the hair to having a receding hairline or going completely bald. The average person loses up to <\/span>100<\/span><\/a> hairs per day, so it\u2019s natural to lose hair, but many people will experience more hair loss than this. Hair loss can begin for some people as early as their 20s or 30s, but for most people, hair loss becomes more common later in their lives as part of the natural aging process. By the age of 50, about <\/span>85%<\/span><\/a> of men will have thinning hair.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHair loss is often benign and related to the aging process, however, it can also be a sign of a more serious underlying medical condition,\u201d says <\/span>Gary Linkov<\/span><\/a>, MD, a facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist in New York. Hair loss can also be a side effect of certain medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

Baldness can affect both men and women, though male-pattern baldness is more common than female-pattern baldness. Male-pattern baldness is typically inherited and can start at any age. Some men may only get a receding hairline while others may lose all of their hair. Female-pattern baldness usually begins with thinning at the part and then thins all over the rest of the head. It rarely results in total hair loss, and many women will only experience a thinning of their hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

What you can do to keep your hair from falling out will depend on what\u2019s causing it in the first place. We\u2019ll take a look at some treatment options for hair loss later on.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes of hair loss\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re experiencing hair loss and your hair keeps falling out, it may be for one of the following reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Age<\/span><\/h3>\n

The natural aging process is one of the leading causes of hair loss that affects both men and women. Over time, hair growth slows down and hair follicles eventually stop growing hair altogether. These two things in combination cause hair on the head to thin and recede. By the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of hair loss. Among menopausal women, about <\/span>two-thirds<\/span><\/a> experience hair thinning or bald spots.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Alopecia areata<\/span><\/h3>\n

Alopecia is an autoimmune skin disease where the body\u2019s immune system attacks hair follicles. Because hair follicles hold the hair in place, when they\u2019re compromised, hair falls out. This autoimmune disease can affect hair all over the scalp, face, and body, and in some cases, it can cause total hair loss. It\u2019s estimated that as many as <\/span>6.8 million people<\/span><\/a> in the U.S. are affected by alopecia areata, affecting people of all ages, genders, and ethnic groups.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Anagen effluvium<\/span><\/h3>\n

Anagen effluvium is an abnormal and rapid loss of hair during the first phase of the hair growth cycle. This type of hair loss happens because of medical treatments or exposure to toxic chemicals. Cancer treatments often cause anagen effluvium, but hair usually grows back after exposure to the medication ends. Anagen effluvium is <\/span>just as likely<\/span><\/a> to happen to women and men exposed to a medication or toxin that causes hair loss.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Androgenetic alopecia\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Androgenetic alopecia is also called female or male-pattern baldness. This is a common type of hair loss that causes hair to fall out in a well-defined pattern, often beginning above the temples. Men often experience thinning of the hair on the crown of their head, as well as a receding hairline, though some men will eventually go completely bald. Women often see their hair loss as a thinning of their part and don\u2019t typically lose hair from their front hairline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Androgenetic alopecia is a prevalent type of hair loss that affects <\/span>50 million men and 30 million women<\/span><\/a> in the United States. The risk of getting androgenetic alopecia increases with age, but for some people, their hair loss will start as early as their teens. Even though the exact cause of androgenetic alopecia is unknown, genetics and environmental factors may contribute.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Hormonal imbalance<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hormonal changes can cause hair loss for both men and women. An underactive thyroid system that produces less of the thyroid hormone can cause hair growth to be put on pause until hormone levels are normal again. Some women going through menopause will experience hair loss as their levels of progesterone and estradiol go down, which slows hair growth. The medical condition polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is also associated with hair loss because it lowers hormones responsible for hair growth. Women over the age of 60 have more than a <\/span>60%<\/span><\/a> chance of experiencing hormonal hair loss.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many women experience a lot of hair shedding after they had a baby, usually caused by falling estrogen levels after delivery. Shedding usually peaks at <\/span>four months postpartum<\/span><\/a> and most women regain their normal hair fullness by one year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Scalp infection<\/span><\/h3>\n

Having an infection on the scalp can cause mild to severe hair loss. Tinea capitis, or fungal ringworm, is a type of fungal infection that causes hair loss. The fungus attacks hair follicles and hair shafts on the scalp, and sometimes, the eyebrows, and eyelashes. Tinea capitis mostly affects children between the ages of <\/span>3 and 14<\/span><\/a>, but it can affect any age group.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Stress<\/span><\/h3>\n

Stress is one of the most common causes of hair loss for both men and women. Three types of hair loss are typically associated with stress:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n